McKinnon Wood

Thomas McKinnon Wood PC (26 January 1855 – 26 March 1927) was a British Liberal politician. A supporter of social reform who was regarded as having "sound Progressive credentials," he served as a member of H. H. Asquith's cabinet as Secretary of State for Scotland between 1912 and 1916 and as Financial Secretary to the Treasury and Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster between July and December 1916. He was also involved in London politics and served as Chairman of the London County Council between 1898 and 1899.

Background and education Born in Stepney, Wood was the only son of Hugh Wood, a merchant and shipowner, by his second wife Jessie McKinnon, daughter of Reverend Thomas McKinnon.

Political career McKinnon Wood was a member of the London County Council for Central Hackney from 1892 to 1909. In April 1908 McKinnon Wood was appointed Parliamentary Secretary to the Board of Education in the administration of H. H. Asquith, a post he held until October of the same year, when he became Under-Secretary of State for Foreign Affairs. The following year he was promoted to Secretary for Scotland with a seat in the cabinet. He continued in this post also when the war-time coalition was formed in May 1915. His integrity was called into question over the 1908 -1919 Oscar Slater case and inquiries into his false conviction for murder. In July 1916 he was appointed Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Financial Secretary to the Treasury. The latter post was considered very important in the war-time situation, and was not seen as a demotion.

However, when Lloyd George became prime minister in December 1916, McKinnon Wood was not offered a post in the government. By the time the general election of December 1918 was held, McKinnon Wood was an anti-coalition Asquith Liberal. In common with most of the Liberals who did not receive the "Coalition Coupon" he lost his seat, which was gained by Gideon Oliphant-Murray of the Conservative Party. He made one attempt to re-enter the Commons when he stood unsuccessfully for Hackney Central in 1922.

Family McKinnon Wood married Isabella Sandison, daughter of Alexander Sandison, in 1883. They had eight children, six sons and two daughters. Two sons and one daughter predeceased him. McKinnon Wood died in South Kensington two weeks after his wife in March 1927, aged 72. Following a funeral service at Whitefield's Tabernacle, Tottenham Court Road, McKinnon Wood was buried in a family vault on the eastern side of Highgate Cemetery (plot no.31039), opposite the grave of George Eliot. He left an estate valued at £130,372.